HARUM-SCARUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does harum-scarum mean? 

• HARUM-SCARUM (noun)
  The noun HARUM-SCARUM has 1 sense:

1. a reckless impetuous irresponsible person

  Familiarity information: HARUM-SCARUM used as a noun is very rare.

• HARUM-SCARUM (adjective)
  The adjective HARUM-SCARUM has 1 sense:

1. cheerfully irresponsible

  Familiarity information: HARUM-SCARUM used as an adjective is very rare.

• HARUM-SCARUM (adverb)
  The adverb HARUM-SCARUM has 1 sense:

1. in a wild or reckless manner

  Familiarity information: HARUM-SCARUM used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HARUM-SCARUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reckless impetuous irresponsible person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

daredevil; harum-scarum; hothead; lunatic; madcap; swashbuckler

Hypernyms ("harum-scarum" is a kind of...):

adventurer; venturer (a person who enjoys taking risks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "harum-scarum"):

tearaway (a reckless and impetuous person)

Derivation:

harum-scarum (cheerfully irresponsible)

• HARUM-SCARUM (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cheerfully irresponsible

Synonyms:

carefree; devil-may-care; freewheeling; happy-go-lucky; harum-scarum; slaphappy

Context example:

had a harum-scarum youth

Similar:

irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)

Derivation:

harum-scarum (a reckless impetuous irresponsible person)

• HARUM-SCARUM (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a wild or reckless manner

Synonyms:

harum-scarum; pell-mell

Context example:

running pell-mell up the stairs

 Context examples 

I was a harum-scarum, reckless lad, and he had had an education, and was already marked for the sword-belt.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hang the Rambler! Come down and give me your word that this harum-scarum boy of mine hasn't done anything ungrateful or impertinent.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

To Jo alone did the shy child tell her thoughts, and over her big harum-scarum sister Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than anyone in the family.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"We don't like romps and flirts, though we may act as if we did sometimes. The pretty, modest girls are never talked about, except respectfully, among gentleman. Bless your innocent soul! If you could be in my place for a month you'd see things that would astonish you a trifle. Upon my word, when I see one of those harum-scarum girls, I always want to say with our friend Cock Robin...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)